Use of Colorectal Cancer Tests—United States, 2002, 2004, and 2006

Colorectal Cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States among cancers that affect both men and women. The US Preventive Task Force and other national organizations recommend that persons aged 50 years and above at average risk be screened for colorectal cancer using one or more of the following methods: fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) every year, sigmoidoscopy or double-contrast barium enema every 5 years, or colonoscopy every 10 years. To estimate rates of use of colorectal cancer tests and to evaluate changes in test use, CDC compared data from the 2002, 2004, and 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys. Here, Joseph et al describe the results of that comparison, which indicated that the proportion of respondents aged 50 years reporting use of FOBT and/or sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy increased overall from 2002 to 2006. A CDC editorial note is included.